When we planned for me to visit for most of a week prior to the ALA conference, Ivy and I were discussing Making Stuff. She had lots she wanted to do, as always, and I needed something to keep busy with. The screen door project gave way to the bamboo dressing screen (frame by me, panels knitted from bamboo yarn from her). Then I started getting text messages while waiting for the music to start at blues jam night, and within about 20 minutes, I was committed to build her a fold-up cutting table in support of her artfuckery.

The top is melamine (was supposed to be 3/4" thick, but somehow we came home with 5/8" thick stock -- d'oh). The undercarriage is dimensional lumber, 2x3 and 1x4. The center section is 2'X4' with 3'x4' leaves on either side. Gate legs swing out to support the top or swing in to let it collapse to the 8 s.f. footprint. It's a little heavy for her to move around by herself, but she can manage, I think.

I'm disappointed in some divots from the top resulting from screws poking through, screws that I had previously checked and that seemed like they'd fit within the thickness. They sunk a little too deep when I put them it, I guess. Also the uneven concrete floor makes it tough for 8 legs over an 8' span to all sit flat at once. Overall, it works well, though, and she seems happy with it, which pleases me.

The leaves are hinged at three spots, and we ran countersunk machine screws with nuts & lock washers clear through rather than trust the puny screws that came with the hinges. (The yarn cakes were wound up using the coolest apparatus ever, not pictured.)

We also did other fun stuff like Robin's America Fasteriskck Yeah party and Shakespeare at Barnsdall Art Park with picnic and touring the Cal Tech library, and chatting with Trey & Melissa, and dfrinking with Dawn & Bill & Miriam.